Macalester Spoils Home Finale

NEW ULM, Minn. - The MLC football team was done in by two long touchdown passes in the fourth quarter in a 28-21 loss to Macalester Saturday.

MLC took an early 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown run by Andrew Becker, but the Scots tied things up late in the first quarter with a touchdown run of their own.

Macalester took the lead late in the second quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Clark Bledsoe to Jon Elliott, putting MLC in a 14-7 hole heading into halftime.

After a defense held Macalester down to start the third, quarterback Greg Holzhueter led a 16-play, 87-yard drive that took 7:56 off the clock, capping it off with a one-yard score to tie the game at 14-14.

The Scots would take to the air in the fourth, scoring on a 72-yard pass from Bledsoe to Riley Koval with 6:31 remaining in the fourth to take the lead, and then scoring on a 42-yard pass from Bledsoe to Elliot to add some insurance with under four minutes to play.

The Knights continued to battle, drawing within one score on a Holzhueter nine-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds to play, but were unable to get the onside kick, allowing the Scots to take a knee and the win.

MLC's defense kept the team in the game for much of the way, with the front allowing Macalester an average of just 3.0 yards per carry. Matt Rothe finished with 20 tackles for the game, including one for loss, while Chuqee Fletcher and Ben Hansen each had 11 tackles.

Holzhueter finished the day 63 yards rushing on 19 carries, and also went 11-18 for 112 yards through the air. Aaron Voss had 59 yards on the ground on 12 carries, while Becker added 40 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving on two catches.

Bledsoe was the offensive star for Macalester, finishing the day 20-25 passing for 290 yards and three scores, and also rushing for 21 yards and a score on six carries.

The Knights will return to the field next Saturday, November 13, when they play in the season finale at Northwestern. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.